WORLD IN BRIEF | December 9, 2012

By THE CHRONICLE HERALDPublished December 9, 2012 - 9:29pm

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Gunman kills three

on Indian reservation

PORTERVILLE, Calif. (AP) — A man shot three people to death and wounded another on a California Indian reservation, and was wounded himself several hours later in an exchange of gunfire with sheriff’s deputies as he tried to flee in a vehicle, authorities said Sunday.

The suspect, 31-year-old Hector Celaya, also shot and wounded his two daughters, ages 5 and 8, who were with him in the vehicle when he was apprehended about 2 a.m., officials said. It was unclear exactly when the girls were shot.

A motive for the attacks also wasn’t immediately known.

Romanian vote likely to

create more upheaval

BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — Romania’s centre-left government won a clear victory in Sunday’s parliamentary elections, according to exit polls. The result could inflame the personal rivalry between the nation’s top two officials and bring yet more political upheaval.

The prime minister’s governing alliance had about 57 per cent of seats in the 452-seat legislature, according to a poll published after elections on national television TVR.

Coming in second was a centre-right group, allied to President Traian Basescu, which polled over 18 per cent. A populist party headed by a media tycoon won about 13 per cent, according to the poll. First results are expected Monday.

Singer’s plane crashes

in northern Mexico

MEXICO CITY (AP) — The wreckage of a small plane believed to be carrying Mexican-American singing superstar Jenni Rivera was found in northern Mexico on Sunday and there are no apparent survivors, authorities said.

Transportation and Communications Minister Gerardo Ruiz Esparza said that “everything points toward” it being the U.S.-registered Learjet 25 carrying Rivera and six other people from Monterrey en route to Toluca, Mexico. The plane had gone missing after takeoff early Sunday.

The 43-year-old who was born and raised in Long Beach, California, is one of the biggest stars of the Mexican regional style known as grupero music, which is influenced by the norteno, cumbia and ranchera styles.

Renewed violence feared in Gaza

JERUSALEM (AP) — The rising confidence and bellicosity of Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip, combined with rapidly deteriorating relations with Israel’s would-be peace partner in the West Bank, are raising jitters in Israel that a new Palestinian uprising could be near.

A number of prominent voices urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday to take steps to ease the tensions and bolster the Western-backed Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas. Netanyahu’s political rival, former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, warned that renewed violence might not be “far off.”

But the Israeli leader stood tough. Poised for re-election, it appears unlikely he will float a bold new initiative anytime soon. “We in the government have no illusions. We want a true peace with our neighbours. But we will not close our eyes and stick our heads in the sand,” Netanyahu told his cabinet.

Elder Bush remains

in Houston hospital

HOUSTON (AP) — Former president George H.W. Bush remains in stable condition in his third week of hospitalization in Houston for treatment of a bronchitis-related cough.

Methodist Hospital spokesman George Kovacik said Sunday there was no change in the 88-year-old Bush’s condition. Doctors have said over the past several days that the 41st president continues to improve but they’re in no hurry to release him.